1 Canned food is convenient and easy to use. We can eat corn and green beans in the middle of winter. We can eat canned foods like pineapple that are grown far away from where we live. Before canned food, people mostly grew their own food. What food they could eat depended on the season. People in cities had to shop almost every day to have fresh food. It was a small problem for most people. It was a huge problem for armies.2 About two hundred years ago, Napoleon was the leader of France. His armies tried to take over much of Europe. His men needed food that could travel with them. After all, when you are with an army invading another country, you can't stop and buy food! A reward of a large amount of money was offered .....For the complete story with questions: click here for printable